(291) Notification Regarding Voice Response System
For Patent Maintenance Fees
All patent owners are notified of a new, automated voice response
system for patent maintenance fees. The voice response system may be
accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week on (703) 308-5036 and (703)
308-5037.
The voice response system provides access to general patent maintenance
fee information, including, but not limited to:
. The fee schedule for maintenance fees, including surcharges.
. How to pay maintenance fees (e.g., check, money order, deposit
account, etc.).
. Where to pay maintenance fees.
. General information on expired patents (e.g., petitions must be
filed within 24 months after the expiration date).
. How to access maintenance fee information through the official PTO
Web site.
The voice response system provides access to maintenance fee
information on specific patents, including:
. The current entity status (e.g., small entity).
. The filing date.
. The issue date.
. Information on payments in the maintenance fee history file
excluding refunds.
A diagram of the voice response system follows.
Questions regarding patent maintenance fees should be directed to the
Maintenance Fee Branch at (703) 308-5068 or (703) 308-5069. Questions or
comments concerning this notice should be forwarded to Matthew Lee,
Office of Finance, by telephone at (703) 305-8051, by facsimile at (703)
305-8007, or by e-mail at matthew.lee@uspto.gov.
March 12, 1999 Q. TODD DICKINSON
Acting Assistant Secretary
of Commerce and
Acting Commissioner
of Patents and Trademarks
[1221 OG 40]